Waymo One Expands Public Robotaxi Service to Four Cities in 2024
Waymo announces the expansion of its fully autonomous ride-hailing service, launching immediately in Los Angeles and planning a public rollout in Austin later this year. The company now provides driverless rides across four major cities as autonomous driving becomes a daily reality for thousands.
Waymo One expands its fully autonomous ride-hailing service to four major cities this year, bringing driverless rides to more communities. Starting March 14, select members of the public in Los Angeles gain access to the service, while Austin prepares for a public launch later in the year following recent initial testing. Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana shares this expansion at SXSW, highlighting that autonomous driving now serves as a real-world transportation method for tens of thousands of riders weekly.
In Los Angeles, Waymo operates across a 63 square mile area stretching from Santa Monica to Downtown LA. The company offers free initial rides before transitioning to a paid service following recent approval from the California Public Utilities Commission. Over the past five months, Angelenos complete more than 15,000 fully autonomous rides during an early tour, earning an impressive average trip rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars as riders integrate the service into their daily routines.
Austin represents another crucial growth market, with Waymo currently conducting fully autonomous test rides across a 43 square mile zone that includes downtown, Barton Hills, and East Austin. This careful, deliberate testing phase ensures the Waymo Driver safely navigates the unique streets of the Texas capital before the company opens the service to the general public. Together with existing operations in San Francisco and Phoenix, these additions mark a significant milestone in scaling safe, driverless transportation nationwide.